Home Secretary offers a job to the police chief who called for her sacking

Thursday 17 July 2008 10:22 BST

Job offer: Former Police Federation chief Jan Berry

A former police leader who humiliated Jacqui Smith and accused her of 'betraying' frontline officers has accepted a job from the Home Secretary to reduce police red tape.

Jan Berry, who stepped down as chairman of the rank-and-file Police Federation only two months ago, used a high-profile speech in May to deliver a personal attack on the Home Secretary.

Miss Smith sat in silence on the stage at the Federation's annual conference as Mrs Berry mocked her admission that she smoked cannabis in her youth.

On Miss Smith's decision effectively to cut the police's below-inflation pay deal from 2.5 per cent to 1.9 per cent, she said: 'I do not say this lightly when I say you betrayed the police service.'

But less than two months after delivering the scathing tirade, it emerged that Mrs Berry will spearhead Home Office efforts to cut the burden of red tape on frontline police.

Mrs Berry, who retired from her role as chief inspector in Kent weeks after her comments, is expected to work part time, for a salary of £40,000-a-year.

Paper launch: Gordon Brown meets with Acpo chief Ken Jones and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith at No 10 this morning

Yesterday she claimed she was 'surprised and flattered' to be asked to take on the role of bureaucracy champion. But some senior former colleagues have voiced concerns that she is 'selling out'.

Others claimed she was the ideal candidate to lead a special taskforce to reduce pointless form-filling so officers can spend more time on the beat.

Police Minister Tony McNulty was asked yesterday what message it sent out for a woman who publicly mocked the Home Secretary to be rewarded with a job.

He said: 'Jan at that time was doing her job, and whatever I think about how she was doing her job on that occasion, she has a huge wealth of experience she will bring to that role. I'm glad she's accepted.'